Comparing alloimmunization in preterm infants after transfusion of fresh unmodified versus stored leukocyte-reduced red blood cells.

Purpose: To compare the occurrence of red blood cell (RBC), platelet (PLT), and white blood cell (WBC) antibodies in preterm infants after transfusions.

Methods: A randomized, blinded trial was conducted in which preterm infants were transfused either with stored RBCs, prepared by prestorage leukocyte reduction and transfused throughout 42 days of storage to limit donor exposure (n = 18), or with fresh RBCs prepared without leukocyte reduction and transfused within 7 days after collection from as many donors as needed to guarantee freshness (n = 17). Nontransfused preterm infants of comparable birth weight were control subjects (n = 11).